Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQ

How much does a website cost?

We do not offer cookie-cutter templated solutions, so there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. To better understand your business’s needs, typically a representative from JC Sweet & Co. will sit with a business owner for about an hour. After asking and answering a number of questions about size, functionality, training needs, budget, and timeline, we will be able to provide you with a proposal for your review.

How does the payment process work?

At the point of agreement we do require 50% of your payment upfront. The rest will be due once your website is ready to go live. We accept cash, check, money order, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and PayPal.

How long will my website take to build?

We like to schedule our web projects in two revision periods. In most cases, after receiving the signed agreements and 50% deposit, we schedule the first revision period to begin and provide you (the client) with a “homework list.” Typically this is the part of the process where we hit the most speedbumps, so be sure to complete your homework in a timely manner!

Once we’ve received your completed homework, we begin the first revision period. During this time we are building the website itself and inputting the content that you have given us. This process usually takes about a week to complete, and once it is finished we present your website to you for feedback.

As soon as we receive your feedback and/or list of changes we begin the second revision period. Once again, this process typically takes about a week, although if you have major structural changes that you wish us to make it may take longer. Once the second revision period is finished and your final payment is received your website will be ready to go live!

How do I know if you’re the right web design company for our website?

A good place to start is in our portfolio. These are the websites that we’re the most proud of. Of course, every website is unique and we design for your needs first, but we do have a certain style to our websites. If you like what you see, then give us a holler!

You can also start a conversation with us. We’re friendly folks and we love meeting new people, so feel free to contact us at any point with any questions you may have. The best way to know if we’re right for each other is to get to know us!

What kind of businesses do you work with?

We work mainly with local small businesses. In the past we’ve worked with restaurants, contractors and builders, childcare centers, recycling centers, lawyers, bakers, artists, local shops, and anything else you could think of! We love working with our clients to create a design that works for your unique needs.

We also offer training sessions and seminars to help you develop online strategy and interact with various social media and email marketing platforms.

Is it important to have a contact page? Do I have to include my phone number?

Your contact page is one of the most important pages on your website. Visitors expect for there to be a way to contact you on your website, and they expect to be able to do so through a contact page. If your website has your contact information solely in a different place, or has no contact information at all, your visitor may give up and go elsewhere.

You also need to include your phone number on your contact page. There is a higher conversion rate for websites that have a phone number. Having a phone number readily available builds trust with your website visitors. They may think that with an email form that they might not get responded back to in a timely manner, but they know that with a phone number they can reach you.

Does my site need a rotating image?

If your business is visual, such as a contractor, restaurant, or photographer, we highly recommend that you use three to four images in a rotating banner. Many business, however, try to feature every product or service that they offer in this section.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that people tend not to pay much attention to slides beyond the first. Large sliders with many images also negatively affect site speed and mobile device users.

We encourage the use of sliders where appropriate. In many cases, however, other methods of catching your visitors’ interest may be more effective!

Glossary of Web Terms

What is…

...a CMS?

CMS stands for Content Management System. They are designed to help non-technical users make changes to their site without having to know all of the coding behind the scenes. WordPress and Joomla are examples of CMS.

...responsive web design?

Responsive web design is web design that changes to fit different computer screen sizes. Because computer screens come in all shapes and sizes, a responsive website allows everyone to view the same website without pieces of it being too large for the screen.

...SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. SEO is the process of building a webpage so that it is easy for search engines like Google to read and understand it. The better your SEO, the more likely it is that people searching in your industry will find your website.

...a domain name?

A domain name is the name of your site, such as jcsweet.com or google.com. Domain names can be purchased through registrars such as Godaddy or Namecheap.

[/qode_accordion_tab title="...a URL?"]

A URL is the specific address of a webpage, and includes your domain name. https://jcsweet.com/about/ is the URL of JC Sweet & Co.’s About page.

...web hosting?

Web hosting is space dedicated to your website on a server so that other people can access it. You will need both a domain name and hosting to have an active website.

...eCommerce?

At its core, eCommerce is buying and selling goods or services via the internet. There are many methods available to include eCommerce in your website, including PayPal, wooCommerce, Etsy shops, and more.

...blogging?

A blog is any part of your website that is periodically updated with new content. Blogging can be done by any business and, when used correctly and regularly, will drive traffic to your website. Company updates, industry news, specials, tips and advice for your customer, and anything else can be part of your blog – if it would be helpful for your target audience, it can be part of your blog!

...conversion and conversion rate?

Conversion is defined as “the act of converting site visitors into paying customers.” Sometimes this is accomplished onsite through an eCommerce portal; other times customers are encouraged to come in to a physical location, such as for businesses like restaurants, law firms, mechanics, and more.

Conversion rate is how many of your website’s visitors wind up becoming paying customers. The higher your conversion rate, the better your website is at turning general interest into business for you!